Letter: School district needs tax hike, others don’t

Re: the story “Cultural groups seek slice of tax hike” (Feb 24): The .5 percent sales-tax increase for the benefit of the county school district is the issue, and it is not greedy. Over a 10-year span, it would provide $1.3 billion more to the district. It is needed and should stand on its own merit and be voted upon.

Generally, people want to help the school district as it helps our next generation.

Other non-related organizations now want to be included in receiving money from the school district’s increased sales tax. Now the county government, plus 38 municipalities, want some of the money, which means doubling our sales-tax increase from .5 to 1 percent.

Also, nonprofit cultural organizations want some of the money. This greed versus need takes away from the school district’s original request, as they will now receive $100 million less over 10 years.

Unlike the local governments, these nonprofit cultural organizations can advertise and advocate that the people should vote for this tax increase. This is attractive to the county government organizations because they are prohibited from advertising.

This is similar to the greed we dislike about our national governmental election campaigns, where organizations will give future benefits to other organizations that will help them to win over the public. I will vote yes for the .5 percent school district sales-tax increase if it is presented on its own, but not when grouped with the greedy.

RICK KREIGER, JUPITER

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